Escapement device for typewriting machines



Aug; 1, 1939. K. R. MULLER 1 2,167,812

ESCAPEMENT DEVICE FOR TYPEWRITING HACHINES Filed July 24, 1936 Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 um, E, 1939. M. R. MULLR EQSGAPEIENT DEVICE FOR TYPEWRITXNG MACHINES Filed July 24, 1936 IW n -4 Aug., L 1939; K. n. MULLER 2,157,812

` ESCAPHENT DEVICE FOR TYPEWRITING' MACHINES Filed July 24,1936 5 shams-sheet 4 Aug.v 1, 1939. Y k. R. MULLER 2,167,812

EscAPEnENT DEVICE FOR TYPEWRITIN'G MACHINES Eiled July 24. 1936 5 sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. yl, 1939 UNITED sT- Ares PATENT OFFICE Karl Reinhold Mller, deceased, late of Neugersdori', Germany, by Hermann Giittler, adminlstrator, Dresden, Germany, assignor to Firma A. G. vorm. Seidel & Naumann, Dresden, Germany, a corporation of Germany Application July 24, 1936, Serial No. 9%,379

In Germany July 20, 1934 10 Claims.

This invention .relates to type-writing machines, calculating type-writing machines or the like in which an escapement wheel cooperates with fixed and loose pawls in the well known `manner in order to space the steps of the case after every printing of a letter.

In such a machine Iorthe purpose of stopping the spacing movement of the loose pawl movable abutments guided for' axial shifting movement vin the carrier body of the said fixed and loose pawls are provided and arranged in positions which allow theloose pawl when released from the escapement wheelA spacing movements of diiierent length depending on which-of the abutments has been moved into its operative position. This allows ,of spacing the diiierent types diiierently according to their own width and of gaining a superior impression of a printed text.

It is of course necessary that the loose pawl in moving for example towards the abutment for the longest spacing movement of the loose pawl should never lose its engagement with the escapement Wheel. Now, in order to make the spacing lengths independent of, the loose pawl is given the form of a wheel in engagement with the escapementl wheel, that is,. a plurality of loose pawl teeth are provided which act as a unit like the teeth of awheel allowing the rst of them, the loose pawl proper, `to get entirely out of engagement with the escapement wheel.

Further details of this invention are explained by thel following description with reference to the appended drawings showing by way lof example several embodiments of the invention, and in which;

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation while Fig. 2 is` a, top plan view of the escapement mechanism according to this invention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a portion of a typewriter showing only those parts which are operatively associated with the escapement mechanism and 4 Fig. 4 shows parts of Fig. 3 in a temporary position during the feeding movement of the carriage.

Fig. 5 shows schematically the cross-pieces which influence the abutments for the loose escapement pawl.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of two type bodies.

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively sectional front and sectional views of another embodiment Aof this invention.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation and Fig. 10 a crosssection of the structure shown'in Fig. '7.

The escapement `wheel I driven by the feeding spring is held fast in the' well known manner by a loose pawl 4'journalled in a rocking member 3 which is pivoted in the axle 2. 'I'he said loose pawl, during a. stand-still position of the carriage', abuts with an arm 6, in anticlockwise direc- 5 tion as seen in Fig. i; against an abutment 'i iixed in member' 3. A spiral spring 9 enclosed in a'casing 8 around axle 5 tends to turn the pawl 4 with an elongation 67a of the arm f5 clock- -wise (Fig. 1) towards abutments I0, II which 10 are movable in and out of their operative position or with the edge 4a of the pawl I towards an abutment I2 which is likewise movable. Only one of the abutments IG, II I2 is in operative position at one time. As is well Iknown in the art 15 however the said pawl 4 can yield to the pull of the spring 9 only during the stepwise feeding of the carriage produced by the so-called universal cross-piece I3 (Fig. 3) which with its part I3b causes the rocking member 3 to rock in the 20 direction of arrow i4 (Fig. 3) around the axle 2.` This movement brings the rigid pawl I5 `dis-- posed in a staggered position relative to the loose pawl, into the path of the teeth of wheel l' allowing the latter a small clockwise turn whilst 25 the loose pawl 4 is momentarily moved out of the path of the said teeth. It is now that the loose pawl 4 according to this invention is enabled to yield to the pull of the spring 9 different distances dependingon which of the abutments has been 3Q 'put into its operative position to act as abutment for this yielding movement.

Suppose a set of types contains types of three different widths and abutment I0 is coordinated to the smallest width, abutment I I to the medium 35 width and abutment I2 to the greatest width. These abutments being guided in bores of the plate-like rocking member 3 (Fig. 3) are as a rule prevented by springs I6, I1, I8 from protruding from the said rocking member towards its rear 40 so as to allow the loose pawl 4 to glide smoothly over these borings, but they can be individually moved to do so by rods Z3, 24, 25 which are operated by the universal cross-piece I3 in the manner hereinafter described, so that they will 45 be pushed out from their bores, the said crosspiece acting upon their front ends against the force of the springs I6, I 7, I8. A bent plate I9 shown in Fig. 3 serves as a second guide for the abutments I0, I I, I2 which plate also guides by 50 slots 20, 2l, 22 (Fig. 2) the rods 23, 24, 25. Each of thev key levers 33,01 the typewriter besides operating the universal cross-piece in the well known manner operates one of three cross-pieces 30, 3l, 32 accordingv to the width of the type co- 55 ,unit and that of the former two units,

Aordinatedhto the particular key. Each ofv said cross-pieces 30, 3|, 32 by two-arm levers 26, 21, 28 mounted upon axle 29 is linked to that one of the rods 23, 2-4, 25 which operatesthe proper abutment to allow the loose pawl an escape movement which again is in accordance with the width of the type in question. Each of the cross-pieces 30, 3|, 32 for the purpose set forth is so shaped as to be touched only by the key levers o f one group of types of the same Width whilst recesses in the sameallow the two other` groups of key levers to move without operating the said cross-piece. Of course one could 'as well shape the key levers accordingly instead of the cross-pieces.

Fig. 5 shows schematically the three 'crosspieces one above the other, the vertical double lines indicating the relative position of key levers 33 the types of which are marked over each double line respectively with numerals added in brackets indicating the group of width to which the individual type belongs. If it is assumed that type u is struck, then evidently cross-piece 3| is actuated while the two other cross-pieces remain at rest.v Each cross-piece when actuated in this Way moves the corresponding rod 23, 24, or 25 upwards, see Fig. 4, where the said ro'd engages the universal cross-piece |3 and by a part |3a of the 4latter is forced to take part in its movement towards the rocking member 3 thereby pushing the abutment with which it is coordinated into its operative position. Crosspiece 3| for example commands rod 24 coordinated to abutment Il, see Fig. 4. The universal cross-piece I3 meanwhile causes with its part |311 the rocking member 3 to rock, releasing the loose pawl 4 to turn and abut against the abutment just having been pushed forth. The abutments l0, and |2 are so positioned, that they allow the loose pawl escapement movements of exactly those sizes corresponding to the three different widths of the type groups.

In case the different types on one type body are of diirerent width, the three cross-pieces may be arranged to be shifted together sideways in the-direction of arrow 35 (Fig. 5) as soon as for example the case-shifting mechanism is operated. According to Fig. 5 the numeral 8 is for example arranged on the same type body as the underscoring line The width ofthe latteris one Striking key 8 would set cross-piece 3| working, which must not be the case when the underscoring line is to be struck. For the latter case the arrangement-which will be described later on in detail-s proposed in which with the case-shifting movement there is combined a. lateral movement of the three cross-pieces 30, 3|, 32 so that the key lever faces then a recess in cross-piece 3| but engages cross-piece 30 at 34a' which controls the abutment I0 for the group of types of one unit Width. The cross-piece 32 must of course be recessed for that key-lever also in the shifted position as all the three cross-pieces must be shaped likewise so that the key-levers will engage in both positions only the proper cross-piece. In case both types of one and the same type body are of the same width, the non-recessed part of the cross-piece to be engaged by the keylever in question must of course be of double breadth and so must be the recessed parts for the same key-lever on the other two cross-pieces. For typewriters with double carriage-shifting movement there could be arranged a double shifting movement of the cross-pieces.

Fig. 6 shows two type blocks with. types to be used for the kind of typewriters here described. The types of a smaller width than the greatest one are as shown positioned upon the type body asymmetrically, but all the types at their right hand edges have the same distance from the right hand edge of the type body.

It is possible to arrange the rigid abutment 1 so that the movement of tooth 4 from its position according to Fig. 1 into the position in which it abuts against the said fixed abutment 1 corresponds exactly to the escapement movement necessary for the group of greatest width. When this possibility is used there is no need of a movable abutment I2 nor of providing' a cross-piece for the key-levers of the said group. Consequently, three groups in this case would need only two cross-pieces and four groups only three crosspieces.

A device of this kind is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 in which there is also shown another `form of the rocking member 3 consisting of a bracket 51 to which is linked at 58 a frame 59 for carrying the loose pawl 60 and for guiding the abutments I6, ll and Il. The said frame 59 is guided with its free end 6| by lbracket 51, which at this end is for this purpose shaped like a hook 62, A spring 64 xed in the bracket at 63 tends to turn frame 59 upwards against hook 62 in which position the teeth ofthe loose pawl 60 are in the path of those of the escapement wheel 'In order to avoid the noise of the teeth of the loose pawl meeting those of the escapement wheel in winding up the said frame 59,` against the tension of spring 64, can be pressed down until the loose pawl is free of the escapernent wheel by a lever 65 journalled in theframe 66 and actuated by a cross-piece 61 against the action of a spring 68, The said crosspiece 61 may be actuated in any well known manner by a key or lever provided for disengaging the loose pawl from the escapement wheel.

The loose pawl instead of being made as a wheel has the shape of a lever 60 with the tooth 4 on the other side of its fulcrum. A fixed abutment 1| here takes the place of abutment 1 in Fig. 1. The movable abutments I0 and are again coordinated to the two smaller groups of types. ment coordinated to the same group of types as the abutment but actuated by the spacing key over the two-arm lever 12 journalled at 13 in frame 66.- Instead of by a movable abutment, the third position of the lever 60 fo'r the group of greatest width is effected by the pullvof the spring-69 towards screw 10 by which spring 69 is secured to frame 59. This position is shown in dotted lines.

It is preferable for a good impression of the print to coordinate the spacing key to the group of types of medium width as has been done in the example just described.

This invention can also be adapted to constructions in which the loose pawl is shifted instead of rocked.

This device can be used in normal machines for the purpose of writing with greater distances between the types of a word as it is .done now by actuating the spacing key after every printing key.,

In order to shift the cross-pieces 36, 31 by which the rods 52 for operating the abutments I0 and .Il are actuated laterally when using the carriage shift key 38 a two-arm lever 39, 40, Figs. 7 and 8, is used, which is pivoted at 4| in an arm 42 secured to the frame 43 and rocks in a plane rec- There is however a special movable abutsaid shift-key lever 38 has its fulcrum at .44 in the `frame 43 and when operated acts against arm 39 of the said two-arm lever 39, 40 against the action ofa spring 45 which tends to draw lever 39 upwards. The other arm 40 of the two-arm lever leads upwards to the height of shaft t6 there being bent horizontally to face two collars 4l,- 43 of the said shaft whilst a twin arm 49' of the same shape and screwed to arm 40 is cranlred so as to face the said collars on the opposite side of shaft 46. The ends of both twin arms are bent towardsone another to enter between the two collars and upon rocking movements of the two-arm lever to shift the shaft 46 laterally, As cross-piece 3l is with two arms keyedto shaft d5' it is also shifted laterally. Cross-piece 3b keyed to shaft 5U is shifted by a like mechanism on the other side of the machine frame and controlled by the right hand carriage shifting key.

The arms 5l which lift the rods 52 are keyed upon the shafts 46, 50 by slot Eiland key 54 so as to be able to keep in place when the shafts are shifted laterally whilst being coupled to the turning movements of the said shafts. A plate guides the arms 5| laterally by slots 5E.

This invention is independent of the form of the movable abutments for the loose pawl and also of the way they worlr or are` operated. The embodiments described above are only examples and shall in no way restrict the scope of this invention as there are many other ways possible to carry this invention into practice.

What is claimed is: l.'l[n a typewriting machine, in combination with the movable carriage, of a single escapement wheel for controlling the feed of said carriage, a hired and a loose pawl in operative relationship to said escapement wheel, a rocking member carryingsaid pawls, a rigid abutment for stopping y the feed of said carriage, movable abutments for different spacing movements of said carriage, means for selectively moving said abutments into operative position, said loose pawl being rotatably mounted in said rocking member and having the shape ol? atoothed` sector adapted to engage said escapement wheel by the' sequence of its teeth when said xed pawl is disengaged therefrom and cooperating with said abutments for different spacingmovements.

2. The combination as specied in claim l, in which said movable abutments are mounted in said rocking member.

3. The combination as specified in claim l, in which said movable abutments are mounted in said rocking member and are normally held by springs in inoperative position, and including a universal cross-piece and movable rods adapted to be operated by saidcross-pece for selectively moving said movable abutments into operative positions.

4. The combination as specified in claim 1, including a spiral spring encircling the axle of said sector-shaped loose pawl for moving the same towards said abutments.

5. The combination as specied in claim l,

including a fixed abutment, a projection on said loose pawl in a position to cooperate with said xed abutment for the greatest spacing movement, and a second projection on said loose pawl adapted to cooperate with said movable abutments for the other spacing movements.

6. The combination as specified in claim l, in' which one cross-piece is provided for each group of types of equal width, `the number of said crosspieces being one less than the number of different distances to be covered by said loose pawl.

7. The combination as specied in claim 1, including means for disengaging the teeth of said sector-shaped loose pawl from those of said escapement wheel.

3. The combination as specified in claim 1 in which one cross-piece is provided for each group of types of equal width and including means for shifting said cross-pieces laterally.

9. The combination as 'specified in claim l, including a plurality of spacing keys for operating different abutments.

lo. In a typewriting machine, in combination with the movable carriage and a single escapement wheel for controlling the feed of said carriage, a rocking member, a loose pawl provided for cooperation with said escapement wheel, carried by said rocking member for engagement and disengagement with the escapement Wheel and having the shape of a toothed sector, one tooth whereof is acting as the normal loose pawl, While the others act to restore the engagement with said escapement wheel on the return swing of said rocking member after disengagement in cases where the tooth acting as normal loose pawl would .er lv tra. .Administrator for Kart .Reinhold Mittler. De

ceased. 

